Calls grow for binding 2030 European renewable energy target

Solar trade body the European Photovoltaics Industry Association has welcomed a draft resolution by two European Parliament committees backing a 2030 EU renewable energy target.

The committees on industry, research and energy, and environment, public health and food safety, today called on the European Council to agree a legally binding 2030 target for renewable energy in the EU.

The draft resolution comes as the European Commission finalises proposals for the EU’s 2030 climate change and energy policy framework.

At issue is whether the framework should include a target for renewable energy target similar to the legally binding 20% target agreed for 2020.

In their draft resolution the two committees called on the European Council of member state governments to “adopt and implement for the EU 2030 climate and energy framework, a multi-faceted approach that is based on mutually reinforcing, coordinated and coherent policies and ambitious binding targets on greenhouse gases emissions reduction, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency”.

Their motion will be submitted for approval to a plenary session of the European Parliament in February ahead of a summit on the issue in March. The commission is expected to publish its own proposals for the framework later this month.

Alexandre Roesch, EPIA’s head of regulatory affairs, said: “The adoption of a legally binding 2020 target proved to be a success story for Europe, and its replication for 2030 is increasingly supported.

“A new binding target for renewables by 2030 would provide the needed visibility to foster new investments in the photovoltaic sector, while a volatile CO2 price signal alone would not be sufficient.”

The call for a 2030 target is gaining some political momentum. Before Christmas, eight European energy and environment ministers wrote an open letter to climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard and energy commissioner Günther Oettinger calling for a 2030 target.

But some EU countries, including the UK, have called for an emissions target only, not one for renewable energy.